We're Sailing!

Hi Friends,

What a tearful joy and relief that God is blessing me with such a caring community of brothers and sisters! And I am still in shock with the $1123 raised in one week and really cherish the many people who offered to lift prayersskyward.

After the training meeting last Sunday, I am getting more excited about traveling to Cairo and experiencing whatever God has in store! Egypt is predominantlyIslam, with 80-95% practicing Muslim. Many of the Christians cannot openly share the gospel without possibly being arrested and persecuted by the Egyptian Secret Police. Some Muslims converted to Christians can never reveal their faith without becoming outcasts to their families.

Our goal in North Africa, then, is to “go and make disciples of all nations” by “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” through our actions (helping clinics) and words (prayers and words of encouragement). We are to read Muslims, Christians, and Jesus by Carl Medearis and optionally,Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Nabeel Jabbour before we arrive, to help us find perspective on how to talk about Christ in a Muslim nation.

Again, thank you all for taking a vital part in my experiences and what God will be doing through our team in Cairo.

Some Prayer Requests:

1. Team Leadership/Unity - Just pray that our team leader, Devin, who is a wonderfully mature 19 year old and has been to Cairo three years ago, leads us in a Godly direction, provides wholesome guidance, is more organized, and communicates with everyone. Also, for people in our team begins to call each other brothers and sisters and are motivated to share fellowship.

2. For God to prepare our hearts and redirecting our hearts on Him and the mission to make Him known - protection against doubts, fragmentation of the team, fears, sickness, or anything that hinders our efforts and ministry and makes us lose sight of the end game: making Jesus known.

3. For God to begin softening the hearts of those we will meet - so that our work in Egypt will further God’s kingdom!

4. To Meet my financial goal by June 26th - Despite many of your efforts, however great or small, from believers and even nonbelievers, I still have to raise $1477!

Here is the response form for those of you who are still considering partnering with me and my team: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDR6TjRNZTRVWmplNjdrYnZGNDVyelE6MQ#gid=0

Checks can go to Austin Stone Community Church, Attn: Kay Clow, Project Code: MFT 147, Team Member: Ashley Liou; 1033 La Posada Dr. #210., Austin, TX 78752.

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So, we’ve set sail to an underground revolution. And now like Paul, we must not be afraid while sailing into Egypt, into a religious majority of Muslims, a different culture, an unknown agenda. For “God has (already) graciously given you the lives of all who sail,” and we only need to “keep up the courage” in what God has commanded. [Acts 27:24-25]

SDG,

Ashley